Etsy Seller Interview with Amanda of HaileysHutch

How HaileysHutch got started

Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?

Hi!  I’m Amanda, an artist, and owner of Hailey’s Hutch.  I design one-of-a-kind earrings made from eco-friendly clay for every occasion. I launched Hailey’s Hutch in the midst of the pandemic in 2020. My oldest daughter, Hailey, wanted to stay busy during this time and asked me for ideas. I decided it would be fun to start a nightly craft hour with her and create jewelry gifts for our friends using my favorite art medium, clay. We bonded, laughed, and created!  Most of my knowledge and skills were acquired from my previous college art classes, where I learned to work with a variety of art mediums. After creating a large collection of earrings, I decided to take a display into a local salon to test the interest level. Women were buying my designs and requesting more! This was a turning point for me and an eye-opener that I could actually turn my art into profit. I opened my Etsy shop (something I wanted to do for a long time) and put a large inventory into a local boutique for my local gals. My girls, of which I have three, are a HUGE inspiration in my jewelry business. We participate in local markets throughout the year and this is where I test new designs.  This is always my favorite part, seeing what designs women gravitate to and love.  I list my best sellers from my markets in my Etsy shop.

Favorite items

What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?

A few of my favorite collections have been the bridal and custom birth flower earrings. I love working with brides and modern women to help create the perfect gift or pair of earrings to complete their signature look.  These collections are a couple of my best-sellers.  I think they sell well because they’re custom-made and meaningful. You can find our Birth Flower Earring Collection here:

Getting sales on Etsy

How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?

I got my first sale in the first week of launching my shop!  I advertised on my personal Facebook page to my friends to help get the word out that I started a new business. I also started a business page on Instagram, which helped get my business connected to my local community and beyond. Etsy has also been an amazing tool for my business in attracting new customers to my shop.  

Managing HaileysHutch

How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?

I have been running my business on my own since I opened, but slowly creating a new system to help manage it more smoothly. This includes hiring a professional photographer, following an Etsy coach, paying for education, and hiring help to assemble the jewelry. I love hiring stay-at-home moms who are looking for a side hustle.  My girls also love to help, and they get paid to do monotonous things such as stamping and folding shipping boxes. Scheduling a free local USPS pick-up has helped a lot too.  We have a regular system with the postman. Being able to delegate just a few of these tasks has given me more time and freedom as a mother, wife, friend, and business owner.

The future of HaileysHutch

What goals do you have for your shop in the future?

Setting realistic goals at the beginning of each year has helped with the success of my business.  To help set these goals, I look at the previous year’s statistics in my Etsy shop and see what sold well so I can be prepared for the upcoming months. I always have a goal to add more designs to my selection for each collection.

Advice for new sellers

What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?

Be patient.  Once you create a listing, don’t change it. A new listing can take up to 6 weeks before it makes a sale.  Starting a business is an investment.  I didn’t start making consistent sales and income until nine months on Etsy.  During that time, I almost quit. I’m so glad I hung on because the reward has been amazing.  Be sure to log into your account every day Monday through Friday.  This shows Etsy you are running your shop as a business, which you should be. Hire a professional photographer in the beginning.  Photos sell.  Etsy is your friend. Use all their tools. If you need help or don’t understand much about selling online, I would encourage you to search for an Etsy coach on Instagram. Don’t be afraid to invest in education.